Combined mail-bag fastener and label-holder



' (No Model.)

-. J. L. KENNEDY. COMBINED MAIL BAG FASTENER AND LABEL HOLDER.

v N0. 259,168. Patented June 6,1882

N FEYERS. PhMoLimographer. Wnhington n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. KENNEDY, OF SIOUXOITY, IOWA.

COMBINED MAlL-BAG FASTENER AND LABEL-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 259,168, dated June 6, 1882.

Application filed February 16, 1882. g (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES L. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sioux City, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa,have invented a certain new and useful Combined Mail-Bag Fastener and In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my'device attached to a mailsack and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig. 3 is a top view.

Similar letters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views.

A is a thin iron plate, having on top, across one end and along each side, the narrow strips of iron, k it, running about three-fourths of the length of A and welded to A. Upon the top of strips k k is welded an iron 1!!ate,a, having an opening or slot, 1), allowing the slip or label to be seen and read, as shown in the drawings.

B is a piece of iron welded on the plate A near its end, with its edge beveled or inclinedtoward the slot 1), and its opposite edge having the indentations r r to receive or hold the cord F. B has the hole d, for the reception and detention of the end of screw D.

G is a piece of iron, shaped to correspond to B, having the thumb-screw D passing through it into B, so that by the turning of the thumbscrew D the piece 0 can be made to approach or recede from B at the pleasure of the operator. The piece 0 has indentations r r, corresponding to r r in B, r r and r r together making openings for the passage of the cords F. Under these indentations are two holes,f, in plate A, through which the ends of the cord F are drawn.

Upon the bottom of the plate A, at its end opposite to D, is a projection, E, having a hole, 0, for the passage of the cord F.

H is the tie-sack, having eyelets t 'i.

To attach the device to a mail tie-sack ready for use, I first run the cord F through the from B and relieving the cords.

eyelets it and the hole 6 and the respective ends of the cord through the holes f. The ends of the cords F are then fastened together by placing the same parallel and wrapping them tightly with cord orthread, and the device is ready for operation. In attaching the cord F it should be so arranged that there will be two eyelets, it, between holes e aud f. Where it is desired to close the tie-sack the thumb-screw- D is turned, drawing piece 0 back from B, allowing the cords F to pass through freely. The mouth is closed by running the device or fastener down the cord against the mouth of the sack. Then by simply turning the thumbscrew D the bar 0 is moved toward B, firmly pressing the cords F against B, and holding the cords securely and keeping the mouth of the sack firmly closed. The'sack is opened by simply turning the screw D and drawing 0 It is evident that the device can be moved up and down the cord F and made fast or firm at any point, as desired.

The labels are used in the following manner: The paper slip S,'having written orprinted thereon the destination of the sack, (which slip is now sent in the sack,) is folded and slipped into slot b, under plate a, at the opening near B, so that it will showthe destination through the slot or opening b-for example, Sioux City Dis, as in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This slip is removed by simply placing the thumb or finger through slot b thereon and pressing the same toward B.

Instead of making bar B rounded, it may be made square, with the upper corners toward a. rounded, in which event the removal of the slip is greatly facilitated by breaking down slightly the end of the slip near B before insertin g, which will make theslip readily bend at the break and pass out over bar B.

The several parts of my device may be made of any material, iron beingpreferable; and, if desired, the several parts, with exception of O and D, may be made in one piece, either by casting or stamping.

- I am aware that tie-sack fasteners of various kinds have been used before; but I am not aware that a combined tie-sack fastener and label or tag embodying all the details of -construction above described has ever been used.

Having described znyinvention, what Iclaim structed and arranged as and for the purpose as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, specified. is In testimony whereof I affix my signature in The combined tieisack fastener and latlmlpresence of three witnesses. holder herein descri ed, consisting of thes ot- 5 ted and recessed plate A, having the fixed bar JAMES KENNEDY or jaw B, movable jaw 0, openings f f, formed Witnesses:

through the plate between said jaws, set-screw J NO. W. KNOTT, D, adapted to open and close the jaws, and E. R. KIRK, 10 the perforated lug or projection E, all con- GEo. W. WAKEFIELD. 

